What is the link between hormone therapy for breast cancer and Alzheimer’s?

A group of researchers from the University of South Carolina analyzed how hormone-modulating therapy (HMT) for the treatment of breast cancer affects the risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s or other related diseases.

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HMT is one of the most frequently used therapies to treat this type of cancer, as it can slow tumor growth by blocking hormones and preventing them from attaching to tumor receptors. While it is a great benefit, there is still no consensus on the side effects that this treatment could have, especially with regard to cognitive decline.

To better understand these other outcomes that could arise, the study, published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open, took as a reference a database of people over 65 years old. After identifying women with breast cancer between 2007 and 2009, they classified those who did not have a previous diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or who did not use HMT.

According to the research, of the nearly 18,000 patients who met the criteria, 66% received hormone therapy within three years of their diagnosiswhile the remainder did not. In addition, 24% of those with a history of hormone therapy use and 28% of non-users were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s within a 12-year follow-up period.

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With that in mind, the experts considered the risk of death associated with increasing age and duration of exposure to HMT.

Among the most notable findings, the study revealed that, among the selected sample group, Hormone therapy was associated with protection against Alzheimer’s and related dementias (ADRD) in women aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

The results also suggest that the association of HMT and ADRD varies by age and race. In this regard, he mentions that “When deciding on treatment for breast cancer, individual factors and therapy should be considered.”

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